Parachute and aerial life buoy



June 17, 1930. E. G. JOHNSON PARACHUTE AND AERIAL LIFE BUOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. l9, 1928 INVENTOR Edward G, Jhnson BY 4 ATTORNEY TNESSES June 17, 1930. E. G. JOHNSON 1,765,075

PARACHUTE AND AERIAL LIFE BUOY Filed Sept. 19, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WITNESSES 3 Edward GiJlmson ATTORNEY Patented June 17, 1930 PATENT OFFICE EDWARD G. JOHNSON, 0F CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY PABAOHU'IE AND AERIAL LIFE ."BUOY Application filed September 1a, 1928. Serial no. 806,997.

This invention relates to aerial navigation and safety devices, and particularly to an improved parachute and aer1al llfe buoy, the object bein to provide a parachute construction whic includes a hghter-than-air formation in certain parts so that a smaller spread to the parachute may be secured and a floatin structure presented when the device stri es a body of water.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined parachute and aerial buoy, whereby a buoyant body is provlded for the arachute using gas, the arrangement bemg such that the buoyant body partially supports the weight, whereby a comparatively slow descent is secured.

A further object, more speclfically, is to provide a parachute and aerial buoy with a canopy formation and a bod formation formed with double walls an means for directing lifting gas between the respective walls so as to provide a certain amount of buoyancy to the parachute structure.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a device embodying the invention, the same being illustrated as supporting a figure;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the devlce shown in Figure 1, the same belng on a reduced scale;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail fragmentary sectional view through Figure 1 approximately on the line 33;

Figure 4: is a reduced perspectlve view of the complete parachute shown in flight;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail fragmentary view partly in section and partly in perspective showing the gas container and associated parts as the lower'part of the parachute illustrated in Figures 1 and 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail fragmentary sectional view illustrating the gas release valve shown partly in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail fragmentary sectional view through Fi re 2, approximately on the line 7-7, t e same 11- lustrating how the gas passes from one part of the device to the other.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates a canopy or umbrella and 2 a construction which may be termed a body carrying a suitable platform 3 at the bottom secured to the body 2 in any desired manner, as for instance, by being secured to the ring l'which in turn is secured by stitching or otherwise to the body 2. The body 2 at the upper end merges into the umbrella 1 or is rigidly secured thereto, as shown in Figure 7, a suitable ring 5 being used to hold the parts in proper relative position and space apart so that an opening 6 will be presented through which the head of a person may extend when the device is in use. The ring 5 may be cemented, stitched or otherwise held in place and thus presents a stiff, unyielding opening throu h which the head may be moved as desired. As clearly illustrated in Figure 1, the umbrella 1 is double-walled and the respective walls are connected by suitable bracing strips 7 of fabric of any desired kind. The respective walls of the umbrella 1 may be formed from treated silk or other material which is gas-proof or substantially gas-proof. A number of openings or passageways 8 are provided in the umbrella 1 so as to allow a certain amount of the compressed air within the umbrella to escape and thus permit the entire device to drop gently and without appreciable oscillation. Also, these openings prevent a strain on the parts near the ring 5 caused by the compression of air near body 2. Body 2 is also provided with inner and outer walls connected together at the ends but spaced centrally, whereby a suitable gas chamber is produced connected with the gas chamber produced between the walls of umbrella 1, said connection being by suitable pipes 0r tubes 9 and 10. On the platform 3 is mounted a container 11 preferably of metal and in this container is preferably provided a lifting gas under considerable pressure. Flexible pipes 12 and 13 extend from container 11 to points between the walls of the body 2, so that when gas is admitted into bed 2 some will pass upwardly through the tu es 9 and 10 so that when there is sufiicient gas the umbrella will be inflated, as well as the body 2. A suitable valve 14 is provided and normally maintain the pipes 12 and 13 closed, but when the person using the device resses downwardly on the lever 15 valve 14 1s opened a ainst the action of sprin 16. When the um rella lis spread out, as s own in Fi ure 1, it will act in the ordinary manner 0 a parachute and by the inflating of the parts as just described appreciable buoyancy is secured, said buoyancy being increased as more gas is used. Preferably the parts are so' proportioned that the lifting action of the gas when all has been used is slightly less than a quantity suflicient to overcome the Weight of the parachute and the weight of an average parachutist. When the parachute is first released from the balloon, airplane or other airship only a small part of the gas is used. As the parachute descends, if the parachutist sees that the landing place is probably objectionable more and more gas is admitted until the descent is almost checked, whereby the parachute may drift for a considerable parachutist.

distance and ive the parachutist a chance to land at a deslrable point. Where the parachute is to land in the water usually all of the gas is used almost immediately and when the parachute strikes the water it will only be partly submerged, and in fact, will be so buoyant as to support not only the parachutist but many times the weight of the The umbrella 1 is preferably circular and one continuous structure, while the body 2, as shown in Figure 3, is divided at line 17. The point of division of the body may be connected to gether by suitable straps and buckles 18, so that a barrelshaped structure will be produced. This is not intended as a water-tight structure, but merely to hold the parts in a desired position, whereby the device will alight properly on the water or the land. From Figure 1 it will be seen that suitable openings 19 and 20 umbrella near the center opening, means acting as a latform connected to the bottom of said arrel-shaped bod for supporting a person within said b y means carried by said latform for discharging lifting gas into t e body and the umbrella, and guy members for connecting the outer or- 103 of the umbrella with the bottom 0 the 2. A parachute, including a gas filled umbrella, means connected with the umbrella for supporting a person said means including a platform positioned substantially at the lowest point on the parachute, a gas tank carried by said platform, means for connectin the gas tank to the gas filled umbrella, and a. oot operated valve positioned adjacent the feet of a person standing on said platform for controlling the flow of gas from the tank to the gas filled umbrella during the descent of the parachute.

3. A parachute, includin a double-walled gas-filled umbrella form with a central opening through which the head of the parachutist may extend, a double-walled as filled body connected to the center of t e umbrella, said body being shaped so that the inner walls thereof will he s aced from the person carried by the parac ute, said body also having openings adjacent the under 90 surface of said umbrella through which the arms of the person carried by the device may extend, and means carried by the bottom of the body for supportin a person.

EDWARD JOHNSON.

are provided in the body 2 through which the arms .of the parachutist may extend as the parachute drops. In forming the umbrella 1 and the body 2 any suitable form of reinforcing members, as for instance, ropes, may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention and a certain number of guy ropes 21 are used, as shown in Figure 1, to connect the lower part of the body 2 to certain parts of the umbrella 1, whereby the umbrella will remain spread and the parts will function in the roper manner to descend comparatively slow y and at the same time. hold the parachutist in a substantiall uprightposition.

WhatIcaim is: e

' 1. A combined parachute and aerial life buoy, including '-a-*double-walled umbrella having an opening in the center and a plurality of air vents between the center and the periphery, a doublt-walled barrel shaped body connected to the center of the 

